Summary
Cross-sectional studies have shown plasma cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) to be increased in patients with diabetes-related complications. In the first prospective study of CAMs, we have shown that plasma CAMs may be a predictor of the development of diabetic neuropathy. We followed up 28 diabetic patients (13 neuropathic) over a 5 year period, starting from 1991. All patients had peroneal nerve conduction velocity (PNCV), vibration perception threshold and plasma CAMs measured at baseline and follow-up. We found P-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule –1 (ICAM-1) to be increased at baseline in patients with neuropathy compared to non-neuropathic patients. P-selectin and E-selectin were also found to be significantly higher at baseline in patients who at follow-up showed deterioration in PNCV of more than 3 m/s (p < 0.05; p = 0.01; respectively). P-selectin and ICAM-1 strongly correlated with PNCV. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses showed a significant inverse association between increasing log P-selectin, log E-selectin and log ICAM-1 with decreasing PNCV, and remained significant even after adjustment for glycaemic control. P-selectin and E-selectin, odds ratios of 8.8 (95 %CI: 1.1–68.8; p = 0.038) and 12.5 (95 % CI: 1.2–132.1; p = 0.036), respectively, were significantly associated with the risk of deterioration of PNCV after 5 years. This study suggests that plasma cell adhesion molecules may play an important role in the development and progression of peripheral neuropathy in diabetes mellitus. [Diabetologia (1998) 41: 330–336]
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Received: 15 July 1997 and in revised form: 13 October 1997
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Jude, E., Abbott, C., Young, M. et al. The potential role of cell adhesion molecules in the pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy. Diabetologia 41, 330–336 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s001250050911
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s001250050911